You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Register a free account to unlock additional features at BleepingComputer.com

Welcome to BleepingComputer, a free community where people like yourself come together to discuss and learn how to use their computers. Using the site is easy and fun. As a guest, you can browse and view the various discussions in the forums, but can not create a new topic or reply to an existing one unless you are logged in. Other benefits of registering an account are subscribing to topics and forums, creating a blog, and having no ads shown anywhere on the site.

Latency in any system is a measure of how long it takes after a request for data until the data is present to be read. The lower the number, the shorter the wait, so lower latency = higher performance.

If you're adding to existing memory, aim to get the same latency specification if possible, or lower if you want to allow for future matching. If new memory has lower latency, it will be run at the higher latency setting (more waiting) to match the current memory. If you bought RAM with higher latency, the memory you have now would then be run at the slower latency to match it. If you are replacing the RAM entirely, getting lower latency will maximize performance, although how much depends on what you're doing.

It's common to see higher latencies on newer designs of memory. An older type is at the end of its development cycle, is not going to higher clock speeds and is well worked out so latency can be pushed harder. Newer technology is developing, not yet getting a high yield of top performing parts and is advancing clock speeds, so low latencies are expensive for a given clock speed, and general spec RAM shows higher latency.

It is also recommended that you do not mix memory types or brands. If you want true performance try and get dual channel kits if available, and if you are unable to get that try and order from the same brand/manufacturer.

For example, if you have 2 sticks of Kingston ValuRAM at PC2-6400 and you see a sale for Corsair PC2-6400, it is advisable that you do not purchase then Corsair unless you are planning to replace your Kingston ValuRAM with Corsair. Then at that time, you should purchase 4 sticks for Dual Channel Support or in the case of DDR3 and Triple Channel purchase your RAM in triplicate. By this I mean if your board has 6 slots for RAM then all slots should be filled with the same type of RAM.